StarOffice Free with Google Pack

The Google software package now contains a free version of Sun's StarOffice, the commercial variant of the free OpenOffice.org office software.

The search engine giant offers free and commercial software downloads under the "Google Pack" label. Google Pack requires the Windows XP or Vista operating system, although some of the applications will also run on Linux. The pack includes free software such as the Firefox Web browser, but also commercial packages such as the Real Networks RealPlayer, Norton Security Scan, or Sun's StarOffice. The commercial OpenOffice variant costs around US$ 70 and includes additional Web searching functionality according to its vendor, Sun. In contrast to the retail version, the Google Pack version of StarOffice does not include support by the vendor.

Besides third-party software, the software service also includes free downloads of Google's own software developments such as desktop searching with Google Desktop, the Google Toolbar for Internet Explorer, or the Google Earth satellite and navigation software.

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